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Feast your eyes on the new 2014 BMW 4-series convertible: The newest drop-top

Nissan, seeking to capture growing demand for upscale cars and better compete with German rivals such as BMW, will sell its Infiniti luxury brand in its home market, a newspaper reported.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is preparing a $4.1 billion capital increase in which China's Dongfeng and the French government would take matching stakes in the carmaker, sources said. A French delegation is heading to China prepare for a deal.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is preparing a $4.1 billion capital increase in which Chinese partner Dongfeng and the French government would take matching stakes in the carmaker, sources said.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is preparing a $4.1 billion capital increase in which China's Dongfeng and the French government would take matching stakes in the carmaker, sources said. A French delegation is heading to China prepare for a deal.

Diesel engines, hybrid powertrains and high-geared transmissions are all on the table over the next few years for General Motors' soon-to-launch redesigned large SUVs, GM's top truck engineer says.

Toyota is forging ahead on advanced safety systems, even as it falls behind rivals on more mundane crash-protection technology.

Thirty-four innovations, in such diverse areas as all-wheel drive, adhesives and infotainment, are finalists for the 2014 Automotive News PACE Awards.

On Oct. 17, 1973, the first oil embargo plunged the auto industry into a new world. The Oct. 15 issue of Automotive News will look at the impact of that historic event.

Considering the Australian has not been on pole position since the Korean Grand Prix of last year, he didn't look very pleased. That's because world champion Vettel, who could win his fourth title on Sunday, struggled all day in Japan with a KERS problem.

"Unfortunately Seb didn't have KERS (for qualifying)," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told the BBC, "so with that deficit to get on the front row was really a success."

The pole-sitter, who has been outclassed by Vettel all season, agreed: "Sebastian had a problem so it's a bit of a hollow pole but you have to grab the opportunities when you can."

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

Two fires, aside from Webber's performance, also highlighted the session. The first one involved Jean-Éric Vergne's Toro Rosso STR8, and the second one Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber C32.

A struggling Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) qualified eighth, which is the last position he can afford to finish in if he wants to remain in the title fight with Vettel.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Romain Grosjean (Lotus), who have been performing well lately, lined up behind the two Red Bull, and just ahead of Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), on the third row. Nico Hulkenberg, at the wheel of his humble Sauber, took seventh.

Veterans Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Jenson Button (McLaren) complete the top 10.

Meanwhile, Adrian Sutil (Force India), Charles Pic (Caterham) and Jules Bianchi (Marussia) all line up at the back because of penalties: Sutil for changing his gearbox after free practice, Pic and Bianchi for the third reprimand they picked up in separate incidents last week in Korea.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

Qualifying results* - Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
1.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'30"915 - Q3
2.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'31"089 - Q3
3.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'31"253 - Q3
4.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'31"365 - Q3
5.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'31"378 - Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'31"397 - Q3
7.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'31"644 - Q3
8.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'31"665 - Q3
9.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'31"684 - Q3
10.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'31"827 - Q3
11.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'31"989 - Q2
12.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'31"992 - Q2
13.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'32"013 - Q2
14.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'32"063 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'32"093 - Q2
16.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'32"845 - Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'33"357 - Q1
18.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'34"320 - Q1
19.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'34"879 - Q1
20.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'32"890 - Q1**
21.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'34"556 - Q1***
22.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'34"958 - Q1***

*Unofficial timing
**Five-place grid penalty
***Ten-place grid penalty

From GMM

Mark Webber sounds unwilling to move over for his teammate Sebastian Vettel at Suzuka.

With Vettel looking to put his fourth title away on Sunday, the German struggled in qualifying with a KERS failure aboard his Red Bull.

But he will be crowned champion in Japan if he wins and Fernando Alonso is ninth or lower.

Retiring teammate Webber on pole is therefore not part of the ideal plan, particularly with memories of the 'Multi-21' team orders affair still lingering.

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9, Suzuka (Photo: WRi2)

Asked if the drivers will be free to race on Sunday, team boss Christian Horner said coyly after qualifying: "They will do the best they can for the team."

Webber was more specific as he played down the likelihood of following a 'team' plan.

"Seb's had a phenomenal year," said the Suzuka pole sitter.  "He will do his race, I will do my race."

Webber hinted that with Vettel so far ahead in the points standings, and with several races still to run in 2013, his ears are not open to team orders.

"It's not like it's the last race of the championship, obviously, in terms of what can unfold or whatever," he said.

"Normally you talk about these things and they never happen but in general, yeah, we'll be there for ourselves tomorrow."

From GMM

Renault ambassador Alain Prost has dismissed rumours Lotus could become the French carmaker's works team.

Lotus boss Eric Boullier revealed at Suzuka he is discussing "a branding opportunity" with the team's engine supplier for 2014, "and maybe something even closer".

It sparked rumours Renault, falling into the background at Red Bull due to the Infiniti deal, could be looking to make Enstone its works team yet again.

But quadruple world champion Prost told Germany's Auto Bild: "I can say that Renault will keep its strategy of being only an engine supplier.

"A works team in the distant future is not impossible, but not at the moment," he added.

Alain Prost (Photo: DPPI)

From GMM

McLaren has confirmed reports Red Bull's aerodynamics boss is heading to Woking.

Amid the great British team's 2013 slump, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said in Korea a week ago that "some as-yet unannounced" recruitments "will be headline-grabbing".

The first headlines are indeed now emerging.

"(Peter Promodrou has) signed a contract with us," team boss Martin Whitmarsh told Reuters at Suzuka.

Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said Prodromou is "one of the leading engineers in formula one", with his impending move "a win for McLaren and a huge blow to Red Bull".

McLaren, however, may have to wait, as Prodromou's current contract runs until 2015.

When asked about Prodromou at Suzuka, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said: "He's not at Woking yet!"

"We've enjoyed a long relationship with Peter and he's a valuable member of the team and there's quite a duration left on his contract," added team principal Christian Horner.

"We won't force him to stay, if it's his choice to leave then he'll leave at the end of his contract.  But we are quite some way off that."

From Audi

Audi is still undefeated in the 2013 sports car season. All five rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) went to Audi Sport Team Joest. Now the next sporting milestone is just around the corner. On the Fuji circuit in Japan, Audi may achieve the early defense of the World Champion's title in the manufacturers' classification on October 20.

Japan feels like home for many Audi drivers.

Japanese crowd (Photo: Audi)

Tom Kristensen (DK) drove in Japan for four years, his team-mate Loïc Duval (F) has been active in the land of the rising sun since 2006 and lives in Tokyo. Together with Allan McNish (GB), who frequently traveled to Japan in the past as a test driver, they are leading the WEC drivers' standings with a 33-point advantage following their third victory of the season at Austin.

Their own team-mates are their closest rivals. André Lotterer (D) has been involved in Japanese racing series since 2003 and lives in Tokyo, his partner Benoît Tréluyer (F) spent twelve years of his racing career in the Pacific island state. Only Marcel Fässler (CH) had no connection to Japan before the WEC round at Fuji a year ago.

Audi R18 e-tron quattro (Photo: Audi)

Some hard facts are indicating that Japan will be an important race. Audi may win this year's first World Championship title right at the sixth WEC round. Audi's advantage over Toyota amounts to 69 points, with a total of 52 points yet to be awarded at the two rounds following Fuji. Thus, finishing the race is the prerequisite for securing the title early.

But there is much more at stake. After Audi was defeated at Fuji last year, the R18 e-tron quattro is to cross the finish line as the winner in 2013. In the competition, Audi will be meeting with two race cars from challenger Toyota.

From Grand-Am.com

The maximum car capacity guidelines are based on space available at each venue. Series officials arrived at the car capacity for each class based on current projections, and the actual capacity per class may fluctuate as full-season entries are filed.

IMSA will begin taking entry applications on Nov. 1.

Photo: Grand-Am.com

The Prototype (P) class will have a tentative cap of 20 cars at five venues:  Sebring International Raceway, Long Beach, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Detroit's Belle Isle and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The P class will be capped at 19 cars for all other venues on the 2014 schedule.

The Prototype Challenge (PC) class will be tentatively capped at 10 entries for all TUDOR Championship events. PC competitors will race for the overall victory in a two-class race alongside the GT Daytona (GTD) class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 4. A separate race will be held on the same day for the P and GT Le Mans (GTLM) classes, with FOX Sports set to televise both events.



PC will also headline an event at Kansas Speedway - which hosted its first professional sports car events in August with the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge - on Saturday, June 7. PC will conduct doubleheader sprint races alongside IMSA's Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda series at Kansas and at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

The class will have a total of 10 events in the 2014 TUDOR Championship, removing Detroit and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park from the previously announced schedule for PC.



The GTLM class will have a tentative cap of 19 cars at VIR, 16 at Long Beach, 14 at Sebring and Indianapolis and 12 at all others. GTD will be tentatively capped at 19 cars for all events except for Detroit, where the class will have capacity for approximately 21 cars.

From GMM

Sergey Sirotkin "can be happy" after kicking off his quest for a F1 super licence on Friday.

The Russian teen, who will line up as Sauber's 2014 race driver if he qualifies for the mandatory credential, was circulating at Fiorano.

Making use of Sauber's relationship with its engine supplier, Sirotkin was at the wheel of a 2009 Ferrari at the fabled Italian team's own test track.

"Sergey has done quite well, as it was his first time in a formula one car," said Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, not referring to Sirotkin's recent running in a straight line and for a demonstration at Sochi.

"He drove 180 kilometres (at Fiorano)," Kaltenborn is quoted by Speed Week, "and even if we don't want to talk about laptimes, I can summarise by saying that he can be happy."

Ferrari F60, Fiorano

From GMM

Maria de Villota's post-mortem has confirmed reports the former Marussia tester died of natural causes.

International publications say the 33-year-old died of a heart attack after a suspected brain haemorrhage in a Seville hotel early on Friday.

Germany's Welt newspaper said Spanish authorities are investigating, but rumours de Villota could have committed suicide are wide of the mark.

The report also said no medications or drugs were found in the hotel room or de Villota's body.

"It was absolutely natural causes," a forensic medicine spokesman said in Seville after the autopsy.

Spain's EFE news agency said Isabel de Villota suggested her sister's death was related to her serious head injuries sustained in the Marussia test crash last July.

A possible failure of the throttle position sensor has led Nissan Canada to recall 3,452 Infiniti M35 and M45 luxury sedans from 2006-2010.

Infiniti M45 2008. (Photo: Infiniti)

A faulty throttle position sensor will return the engine to idle. In certain cases, an abrupt return to idle could result in the engine stalling, causing a loss of propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, as well as the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash.

Infiniti dealers will therefore replace the throttle position sensor and reprogram the engine control module on all affected units.

Source: Transport Canada

The old General Motors assembly plant in Ste-Thérèse, Quebec (later known as Boisbriand), opened on October 12th, 1965.

As the lone GM production facility in La Belle Province, it started with 939 employees who built the Chevrolet Biscayne and Pontiac Strato Chief.

Thirty-seven years and more than 4 million vehicles later, production ended with the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 on August 27th, 2002. The Ste-Thérèse plant was demolished in 2004.

Source: Boisbriand

Photo: GM

Collectible Classic: 1956-1960 Mercedes-Benz 220S/220SE

A personal luxury two-door with earthy roots.

If you were the prince of Spain, a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S is the kind of car that you might give to your girlfriend. At least that's what Philippe de Lespinay tells himself as he looks at this gorgeous, largely unrestored car at his home in California. As he drives beneath the palms along the ocean, he can picture this rare coupe motoring through the French Riviera in the 1950s. And, yes, there's a slim chance that the prince of Spain might once have owned this very car before he became king.

Photo Gallery: Collectible Classic: 1956-1960 Mercedes-Benz 220S/220SE - Automobile Magaze

Photo Gallery: Collectible Classic: 1956-1960 Mercedes-Benz 220S/220SE - Automobile Magaze

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